| Conservation of the Pitheciins, from Rhetoric to Reality Ferrari, S.F. & M.M. Oliveira Conservation of the pitheciins is synonymous with the conservation of the Amazon forest, a complex issue requiring a variety of strategies. Scenarios range from vast areas of pristine forest to “hotspots” of deforestation, which threaten local endemics. Some species, such as Chiropotes satanas, are already in danger of extinction due to extensive habitat loss within a relatively restricted geographic range, and hunting pressure. Species taxonomy is a basic problem, as demonstrated in this symposium, and the systematics of all three pitheciin genera require more definitive revision before it will be possible to implement universal species-oriented strategies. The relative lack of data on geographic distribution and ecological parameters is also restrictive, especially given the variation observed recently in parameters such as home range size. Conservation in Brazil – where the majority of pitheciins are found – has advanced considerably in recent years with the implementation of an integrated national system of conservation units and the establishment of the National Primate Protection Centre. While coordinating efforts, and in particular encouraging local and private conservation initiatives, there is a substantial deficit of manpower and resources, especially considering the extension of the region. Current priorities must include the hotspots, such as the “southern rim”, where there is an urgent need for the management of habitat fragmentation, but also research, focusing on the least well-known and the more endangered taxa. Return to symposium programme |